By Henry Ehrlich
Danny Meyer, head of the Union Square Hospitality Group, which runs a number of extremely well-regarded establishments in New York, is cited in an article in the New York Times Wednesday Dining and Wine section about the information restaurants keep about their customers. “Mr. Meyer said that out of curiosity, he recently examined the profile his restaurant group keeps on him and his wife. Hers is fairly straightforward, he said; it notes that she is his wife, an actress, allergic to crustaceans and left-handed. Mr. Meyer is less certain how he feels about his own profile, which points out that he is ‘the’ Danny Meyer and likes extra cheese with his pasta.”
Meyer’s personal acquaintance with food allergies accounts for his restaurants’ excellent reputation among food-allergic New Yorkers. Our own Kathy Franklin commented in an early post: “Blue Smoke Delicious barbecue fare at 116 East 27th Street. Mention nut allergies and they’ll bring you the special allergy menu! All of the other Danny Meyer restaurants, including Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, and The Modern at the Museum of Modern Art, are also very allergy-aware, but–be forewarned–they’re expensive.”
For budget-minded families, Kathy describes another Meyer venture, Shake Shack, which can be found at many locations: “Shake Shack Fun, very casual, with milkshakes and great burgers. The kids will like it. …Their website, http://www.shakeshack.com/, has allergen and gluten-free information, and a contact email for any questions. How’s that for hospitality?”
Photo by soupisnotafingerfood.com
I have to say that Disney has taken a hard look and consumer friendly approach to food allergies. In the up-scale dining the waiting staff ask if there are any food allergies. If one in the party has a food allergy, the chef comes out and tells that person how thier order/food is prepared. We have a Disney dining card and my husband and son’s seafood allergies are specified on the card. Another restaurant that looks openly addresses food allergies is P F Changes.